<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDIT-
ED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. & SUBSID-
IDIARIES AS OF SEPT. 30, 1995 & THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF INCOME, STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD THEN
ENDED & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          10,026
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   51,447
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,459
<INVENTORY>                                      5,961
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                93,997
<PP&E>                                       1,457,251
<DEPRECIATION>                                 432,115
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,814,641
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          182,962
<BONDS>                                        570,003
<COMMON>                                        59,026
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      2,268
<OTHER-SE>                                     797,223
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,814,641
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               451,281
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  299,841
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              32,771
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                138,442
<INCOME-TAX>                                    53,395
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             85,047
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    85,047
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.46